(27 Sep 2020, 4:01 pm)Ds1197 wrote I think I've only seen one driver on Newgate Street walking around a bus with a packet of anti bac wipes

Pics or it didn't happen lol!

I mean, I'm sure there is additional cleaning going on, but whether or not it's at the scale that's being implied in the marketing I'm not so sure.

(27 Sep 2020, 1:47 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Quite honestly, until I see some evidence from a third party that the cleaning is happening, I don't believe it is.
It's all well and good Dan or MG saying it's happening with a picture of someone standing with their spray bottle and a rag, but the fact that I've yet to see an independent source confirming it is quite concerning.

The proof will be in the pudding with the bell pushes on the Mercs. 
The design of them leads to build up of grub and grime. 
If they're clean, then I'll feel a lot more comfortable!

Claims at least five more drivers have tested positive for Covid at Arriva in Darlington
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...arlington/

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(30 Sep 2020, 9:44 am)Adrian wrote Claims at least five more drivers have tested positive for Covid at Arriva in Darlington
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...arlington/

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Well, it looks like all that effort MG and the team have put into making buses look safe has been a wasted effort. Even if the story isn't true, it's just completely ruined the reputation of the public transport industry in the region!

If it was going to be any of the operators, it could have only been Arriva!

(30 Sep 2020, 9:44 am)Adrian wrote Claims at least five more drivers have tested positive for Covid at Arriva in Darlington
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...arlington/

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So basically the drivers ignored social distancing rules in the staff canteen and now blame their employer instead. Not sure how that one works, I'm sure they'd complain if they had a manager barking at them all day and treating them like kids telling them off for not wearing a mask. People really need to take self responsibility at times.

There's also nothing about buses not being cleaned properly just the canteen and that some drivers have been disiplined for forcing people to wear a mask who have complained to Arriva - hidden disabilities and a bus driver being a twat sounds the summary here.

Funny how there's been no mention from any unions as they love stuff like this.

(30 Sep 2020, 8:45 pm)Storx wrote So basically the drivers ignored social distancing rules in the staff canteen and now blame their employer instead. Not sure how that one works, I'm sure they'd complain if they had a manager barking at them all day and treating them like kids telling them off for not wearing a mask. People really need to take self responsibility at times.

There's also nothing about buses not being cleaned properly just the canteen and that some drivers have been disiplined for forcing people to wear a mask who have complained to Arriva - hidden disabilities and a bus driver being a twat sounds the summary here.

Funny how there's been no mention from any unions as they love stuff like this.

I made that point further up. I'd guess legally it's Arriva's fault as they have a duty to make the work environment safe, but really it's 100% down to the drivers being complete idiots.

As someone who is medically exempt and sometimes can't wear a mask, I have absolutely no issues with drivers asking me if I have a mask with me, in fact, that's exactly what they should do and I've complained plenty of times on here about drivers not asking me!

(30 Sep 2020, 3:19 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Well, it looks like all that effort MG and the team have put into making buses look safe has been a wasted effort. Even if the story isn't true, it's just completely ruined the reputation of the public transport industry in the region!

If it was going to be any of the operators, it could have only been Arriva!

slight overreaction, plenty of pubs and restaurants have closed after positive tests, it’s the new normal, people are used to it.

And let’s be honest here not only is the northern echo, that nobody reads, but the only people using public transport at the moment are those who have no other choice or enthusiasts so I don’t see numbers taking a bash

(30 Sep 2020, 11:52 pm)Ambassador wrote slight overreaction, plenty of pubs and restaurants have closed after positive tests, it’s the new normal, people are used to it.

And let’s be honest here not only is the northern echo, that nobody reads, but the only people using public transport at the moment are those who have no other choice or enthusiasts so I don’t see numbers taking a bash 

All this is going on during the push to encourage people to use the bus,and when the NE operators are giving out free masks.
Hardly ideal that these headlines and stories are appearing.

(30 Sep 2020, 11:52 pm)Ambassador wrote slight overreaction, plenty of pubs and restaurants have closed after positive tests, it’s the new normal, people are used to it.

And let’s be honest here not only is the northern echo, that nobody reads, but the only people using public transport at the moment are those who have no other choice or enthusiasts so I don’t see numbers taking a bash

But they do read it - and it only takes one negative headline to undo days/weeks/months of hard work.

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(30 Sep 2020, 8:45 pm)Storx wrote So basically the drivers ignored social distancing rules in the staff canteen and now blame their employer instead. Not sure how that one works, I'm sure they'd complain if they had a manager barking at them all day and treating them like kids telling them off for not wearing a mask. People really need to take self responsibility at times.

There's also nothing about buses not being cleaned properly just the canteen and that some drivers have been disiplined for forcing people to wear a mask who have complained to Arriva - hidden disabilities and a bus driver being a twat sounds the summary here.

Funny how there's been no mention from any unions as they love stuff like this.

There is a legal obligation on the employer: "It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this."

Workers also have legal obligations to ensure their own duty of care and that that of others affected by their actions at work. Workers must cooperate with the employer to meet these legal requirements but the primary responsibility for managing health and safety is down to the employer. There should have been a risk assessment completed in consultation with employees (usually through a union appointed safety rep), so everyone should be aware of the risks and control measures put in place.

The site that is reportedly not following the rules should have a competent person who is responsible for health and safety. They should be named on the health and safety law poster, which the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 mandates should be visible. If workers aren't following the rules, then it should have been nipped in the bud straight away. Its a tiny office space not an 12 story building.

And finally, fancy the big bad unions complaining about Health and Safety [emoji849] its worth reading up the history of why it exists and why its so important.

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(01 Oct 2020, 10:56 am)Andreos1 wrote All this is going on during the push to encourage people to use the bus,and when the NE operators are giving out free masks.
Hardly ideal that these headlines and stories are appearing.

Though part of our current rules, noerth of Darlington, is that we should (not must - it's advisory, not law) only be using public transport when necessary, so that push to get back on public transport has gone by the wayside. I know buses here in Durham city are mostly quieter than a couple of weeks ago. There are no longer the big queues at the stop at the Arnison centre that there were before our new restrictions.

Why public transport could be safer than we thought

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-w...t-12091657

Also an interesting read:

Covid-19: What has it meant for the 'busiest' trains?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-54291982

(07 Oct 2020, 6:52 am)citaro5284 wrote Why public transport could be safer than we thought

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-w...t-12091657

Well, if the virus is as big as in that picture , then it's pretty easy to avoid.

(27 Sep 2020, 1:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote I've said it before and I'll say it again. 
Until the general public start to see and witness the additional cleaning - people may not believe the PR or spin. Im not sure it is giving them any confidence at all or if it did, it is starting to diminish.

We've been told that cleaning is going on in places such as Eldon Square, but I'm unaware of any of the members on here actually seeing this extra cleaning.
We've been told that there's no cleaning at Heworth and there's definitely no cleaning at the likes of Market St, Houghton or Easington Lane. 

So where is this additional cleaning taking place and by whom? 

This is far from me saying that it's not happening in line with the promises being made, but unless the public see it - then articles like the one in the Northern Echo or coincidences of incidents happening along the route of the 4, will continue to happen.

(27 Sep 2020, 1:47 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Quite honestly, until I see some evidence from a third party that the cleaning is happening, I don't believe it is.
It's all well and good Dan or MG saying it's happening with a picture of someone standing with their spray bottle and a rag, but the fact that I've yet to see an independent source confirming it is quite concerning.

Whilst waiting to depart on the 0902 journey on X10 this morning from Newcastle, the vehicle's touchpoints were cleaned.

Seems similar to LNER, as when I used one of their trains over the weekend, a member of staff was cleaning the tables as we sped to Edinburgh.

(08 Oct 2020, 3:34 pm)citaro5284 wrote Whilst waiting to depart on the 0902 journey on X10 this morning from Newcastle, the vehicle's touchpoints were cleaned. 

Seems similar to LNER, as when I used one of their trains over the weekend, a member of staff was cleaning the tables as we sped to Edinburgh.

Is this the first time the lesser spotted bus hygienist has been spotted in the wild?!
At first glance, I thought it was Jimmi!

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully, the first evidenced sighting of many!

(08 Oct 2020, 4:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is this the first time the lesser spotted bus hygienist has been spotted in the wild?!
At first glance, I thought it was Jimmi!

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully, the first evidenced sighting of many!

I had previously suggested that this cleaning was being done at the terminus. I was incorrect.

I did a driving shift at Washington on Saturday, clocking on at 2pm, and there was a member of staff cleaning touch points on buses as they arrived at The Galleries.


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Hand sanitiser units in the process of being fitted to GNE buses:

Extra antibacterial treatments and hand sanitisers on all buses as Go North East introduces further measures to protect bus users and make services even safer
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/extra-anti...es-further

Are they contactless dispensers does anyone know?

(19 Oct 2020, 7:36 pm)idiot wrote Are they contactless dispensers does anyone know?

No they're a pump. It's also a foam sanitiser to minimise spillage.

(19 Oct 2020, 7:40 pm)deanmachine wrote No they're a pump. It's also a foam sanitiser to minimise spillage.

And slips, trips and falls... Where there's a blame there's a claim. 


[video=youtube]http://https://youtu.be/K-YatjbiRes[/video] *even those without a dodgy fringe can claim*

Seriously though, installing these pumps can only help give confidence to customers. 
I'm all in favour and they're definitely more prominent than the lesser spotted bus hygienist!

Wonder why they have focused on antibacterial, rather than antiviral, in the headline and on the artwork - given COVID and heightened public awareness of viruses

(19 Oct 2020, 11:15 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Wonder why they have focused on antibacterial, rather than antiviral, in the headline and on the artwork - given COVID and heightened public awareness of viruses

Perhaps antibacterial is easier/cheaper to validate than antiviral?

Although, I have noticed that quite a few anti-bac sprays have suddenly been rebranded as anti-viral

Does anyone else think that they should be using this mist every day after service?

(20 Oct 2020, 7:05 am)idiot wrote Does anyone else think that they should be using this mist every day after service?

It suggests that it lasts over a week, so why would they do it every day? The existing cleaning regimes (which I think most of us have said have noticeably improved) should be taking care of everything else.


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(20 Oct 2020, 7:14 am)Dan wrote It suggests that it lasts over a week, so why would they do it every day? The existing cleaning regimes (which I think most of us have said have noticeably improved) should be taking care of everything else.


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Would the cleaning they do after the mist is applied not then wash the protective film away?

(20 Oct 2020, 7:14 am)Dan wrote It suggests that it lasts over a week, so why would they do it every day? The existing cleaning regimes (which I think most of us have said have noticeably improved) should be taking care of everything else.


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I'm playing devil's advocate. I used the bus today for the first time since March today. Didn't fancy cycling in the rain this morning. I got the 56 and 85. I felt anxious tbh and my kindle battery had died.

Public transport is the biggest barrier getting people back to our offices tbh, we’re looking at February at the earliest now for a return. All my peers are saying the same thing tho we’re seeing small pockets of childcare issues too, public transport remains our biggest issue.

We’ve had 4 positive tests within our operational team of 60 and all of them are public transport users. Now there’s no suggestion at all that’s where they caught it but once it gets around WhatsApp and Yammer that they are non car users that’s it. Guilt by association and when you see local press running with mask less metro passenger stories and twitter and Facebook posts about buses, it’s no surprise we can’t build confidence and it’s hard to see what anyone can do.

Let’s be honest if you used a bus and everyone socially distanced and wore a mask you ain’t gonna post on twitter about it, the opposite you would.

And if I’m brutally honest if my team asked would I use a bus or metro at the moment, my answer would be no.

(20 Oct 2020, 10:01 pm)Ambassador wrote Public transport is the biggest barrier getting people back to our offices tbh, we’re looking at February at the earliest now for a return. All my peers are saying the same thing tho we’re seeing small pockets of childcare issues too, public transport remains our biggest issue.

We’ve had 4 positive tests within our operational team of 60 and all of them are public transport users. Now there’s no suggestion at all that’s where they caught it but once it gets around WhatsApp and Yammer that they are non car users that’s it. Guilt by association and when you see local press running with mask less  metro passenger stories and twitter and Facebook posts about buses, it’s no surprise we can’t build confidence and it’s hard to see what anyone can do.

Let’s be honest if you used a bus and everyone socially distanced and wore a mask you ain’t gonna post on twitter about it, the opposite you would.

And if I’m brutally honest if my team asked would I use a bus or metro at the moment, my answer would be no.

Interesting, where I am the local authority are running a campaign 'Because you care, please don't car share'. Whilst not explicitly pro-public transport, it's encouraging people onto buses by detracting them away from car sharing. On the odd occasion I've been without my car since COVID, I've opted for the bus over a taxi as I feel buses are more COVID secure in that I can generally have a contact free journey - doors are opened for me, payment is contactless and I'm able to sit without touching any grab points. In a taxi I'd have to use the internal & external door handles & seatbelt, many taxis still only accept cash and I cannot properly distance from the driver.

(21 Oct 2020, 8:53 am)James101 wrote Interesting, where I am the local authority are running a campaign 'Because you care, please don't car share'. Whilst not explicitly pro-public transport, it's encouraging people onto buses by detracting them away from car sharing. On the odd occasion I've been without my car since COVID, I've opted for the bus over a taxi as I feel buses are more COVID secure in that I can generally have a contact free journey - doors are opened for me, payment is contactless and I'm able to sit without touching any grab points. In a taxi I'd have to use the internal & external door handles & seatbelt, many taxis still only accept cash and I cannot properly distance from the driver.

Although on buses, you're still in a lottery of whether or not you can properly socially distance from other passengers. If there's very few passengers, then clearly this is not a problem, but I've seen buses running with every row taken. This is less than 1m from person to person, but allowed in the guidelines because social distancing is merely an aspiration for public transport - until they stop using phrases like 'where possible'